Wednesday, December 10, 2008

More Reading

I have been reading a lot lately: Kingsley Amis's Lucky Jim, Jonathan Lopez's The Man Who Made Vermeers, an engrossing true story of forgery in the Netherlands during World War 2, as well as Irene Pepperberg's extraordinary memoir Alex & Me, which chronicles her discoveries about a parrot's brain and cognitive abilities.
Composer John Adams's recently published Hallelujah Junction recounts his life and musical path. With humility, humor and a penetrating intelligence, Adams examines not only his own work but also 20th century music, putting enlightening words on many things I felt and couldn't (or wouldn't dare to) articulate. If you love music or any American adventure, this is a must-read - definitely one of the best books about music and the artist's creative struggle that I ever read.

More from my dear Nancy Mitford! Many of her books are out of print, but I finally managed to get my hands on copies of her first 2 novels, Highland Fling and Christmas Pudding. Her humor is supreme, and her portrayal of the 1920's Bright Young Things so much more insightful that Evelyn Waugh's Vile Bodies...

I love the former's retro cover.

18 comments:

Unknown said...

Your readings are very variadas.
Se me hizo una laguna, no me acuerdo como se dice en English.
Que placer leer mucho!!!!!

sealaura said...

wow! how do you do it all? I am currently reading finals, not as exciting but a ncessity before I can beging to truly enjoy the holiday season.

Laura in Paris said...

I wish I could read, unerstand, remember, and quote what I read as you do.

Solange said...

you always indulge me with your reading list, one title more interesting then the next...
thanks for the inspiration and ideas.
although I have not got that much time to read, but I certainly do enjoy it.

have a nice day,
Solange

Mary-Laure said...

SEALAURA - I hope the finals are not too grueling, Profesora, and that you can soon enjoy The Season.

WORLD IN A PAN - oh but you're a great reader too. And you're the one who gave me "le gout de la lecture".

Miss Cavendish said...

Very good reading. Maybe I've asked this before, but have you read Waugh's A Handful of Dust?

Mary-Laure said...

MISS CAVENDISH - I recall we had briefly discussed Waugh. I have read Vile Bodies only, much to my shame; because it really disappointed me, I kind of gave up on Waugh. Is A Handful Of Dust any good? I may give the man another chance; after all, he was a friend of my Nancy's!

Kwana said...

Beautiful cover. Thanks for the book recommendations.

Esti said...

¡qué suerte tienes de tener tiempo para leer! Yo lo busco, pero no lo encuentro ahora... ;)

Anonymous said...

oh i have a few books on my desk that i have to get to....BUT so lovely that you always find the books that seem as friends to you!
nancyxx

Jill said...

i always like hearing about what you're reading! so interesting! i read nancy mitford a few years ago and really enjoyed her writing. now i have to go back and check which books of her's i read :)

d. moll, l.ac. said...

Oh, I want to read the Vermeer book, I saw it in the bookstore.....

Mary-Laure said...

ESTI - pero vos tenes hijos...

JILL - her best and most widely available books are Love In A Cold Climate, The Pursuit of Love and Dn't Tell Alfred. The Blessing is also in print but I don't like it as much.

D. MOLL - oh do read it and let me know. 2 books were just published about the subject but this one is apparently the best, because written by a genuine art historian (Jonathan Lopez)

l'air du temps said...

so cool all the reading you are doing. you inspire me. i'm not familiar with 'mitford,' but you have peaked my interest. i'll see if i can come up with the books you mentioned at my library.

so sweet of you to share...

marie said...

hm i need to get some books soon! i am reading a autobiography of a french/australian artist mirka mora 'my life : wicked and virtuous' - i think ill look through your posts to find a few books to get this christmas xx

Mary-Laure said...

L'AIR DU TEMPS - if they have "The Pursuit of Love" at your local library, give it a try. And if that one doesn't make you laugh, nothing in the world will... :)

MARIE - that sounds quite interesting, I just love reading the autobiography of artists, especially women. I'll look it up, thanks for mentioning it.

lune_blanc said...

Hallelujah Junction sounds like an intereting read. The prob is, how to buy it?lol

Mary-Laure said...

MICHIKO - you can buy it on Amazon of course! Also via the website of the composer, www.earbox.com
It's really an extraordinary read!